The Turkish Grand Prix has been dropped from the 2012 Formula One calendar, which was confirmed by the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Wednesday.

The definitive calendar also confirmed that the US Grand Prix has been shifted to the penultimate race of the season in November, while Bahrain, which had been scheduled as the season opener, will now be the fourth round after the initial flyaways in Australia, Malaysia and China.

But the biggest news is undoubtedly the loss of the Turkish Grand Prix, which has struggled to draw crowds since its inaugural race in 2005 and has been in doubt for several months. The race organisers had been in discussions with Bernie Ecclestone to extend the contract, but the WMSC's approval of the latest calendar has ruled it out.

A draft calendar had been leaked earlier this year with the Indian Grand Prix ahead of the European season, but that has now been moved to the end of October (similar to its position on this year's calendar).

There will be seven sets of back-to-back races with the season finishing with a double-header in the USA and Brazil.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) have stripped Australia of the right to host a round of the World Sevens Series, scheduled for Brisbane on 16-17 February, after the Australian government's refusal to provide visas for the squad from Fiji